Topic 1 Definition and Measurement of Crime and Deviance

Question 1

Clinard (1974) intro to C+D

Answer 1

suggested that the term ‘deviance’ should be reserved for behaviour that is so disapproved of that the community finds it impossible to tolerate. Not all sociologists would accept this definition, but it does describe the area usually covered by studies of deviance.

Question 2

The functionalist definition of crime and deviance - Durkheim

Answer 2

believed that as societies became more complex and modern so socialisation agencies were less likely to do an effective job in ensuring value consensus. Consequently there was likely to be more crime and deviance in modern societies compared with pre-industrial societies.

Question 3

The interactionist definition of crime and deviance

Answer 3

argue it is important to be able to illustrate the relativity of normality and deviance with reference to culture, historical period and context. For example, alcohol is a socially acceptable drug in Western culture but drinking it is a criminal act in many Islamic societies.

Question 4

Topic 1b: Patterns and trends in crime 
reiner - social class and crime

Answer 4

notes that there is a working-class bias in the prison population: 74% were either unemployed or employed at the lowest occupational levels, prior to their imprisonment. In youth detention centres approximately 8% of persistent offenders came from middle-class backgrounds. Offences can also be differentiated by social class. Middle-class offenders tend to be associated with white collar crime, fraud and tax evasion whilst working-class offenders are mainly found guilty of burglary and street crime.